Agnes Hunt
Encyclopedia
Dame Agnes Gwendoline Hunt DBE
RRC
(31 December 1866–24 July 1948) is generally recognised as the first orthopaedic
nurse.
She was born at Boreatton Park, Baschurch
, a village in west Shropshire
, England
, and was disabled from osteomyelitis
of the hip that she suffered from as a child following septicaemia. In 1887, she began training as a nurse at the Royal Alexandra Hospital
in Rhyl
and opened a convalescent home for crippled children at Florence House in Baschurch in 1900 which espoused the theory of open-air treatment.
In 1901, she sought treatment for her own condition from a Liverpool
surgeon
, Robert Jones
. She invited him to visit the convalescent home and he eventually began travelling there on a regular basis to provide treatment to the children. By 1907, they had built an operating theatre
and they introduced the diagnostic use of X-rays in 1913. During World War I
, Florence House was used to treat wounded soldiers.
In 1918, Hunt was awarded the insignia of the Royal Red Cross
for her contribution during the war. In 1919, the British Red Cross Society and the Shropshire War Memorial Fund provided financing to move the facility, renamed the Shropshire Orthopaedic Hospital, to a former military hospital at Park Hall. The hospital also provided training for nurses. Later, a school begun for the children developed into a training college for disabled adults, Derwen College
. The hospital was used once again to treat wounded soldiers during World War II
. It was later moved to Gobowen
, Oswestry
, and developed into what is now called The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital
.
She was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(DBE) in 1926.
The memorial to Agnes Hunt in Gobowen states:
"Reared in suffering thou shalt know how to solace others' woe. The reward of pain doth lie in the gift of sympathy."
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
RRC
Royal Red Cross
The Royal Red Cross is a military decoration awarded in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for exceptional services in military nursing.The award was established on 27 April 1883 by Queen Victoria, with a single class of Member...
(31 December 1866–24 July 1948) is generally recognised as the first orthopaedic
Orthopaedic nursing
Orthopaedic nursing is a nursing specialty focused on the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Orthopaedic issues range from acute problems such as fractures or hospitalization for joint replacement to chronic systemic disorders such as loss of bone density or lupus...
nurse.
She was born at Boreatton Park, Baschurch
Baschurch
Baschurch is a large village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies in North Shropshire, north of Shrewsbury. Population: 1,475 . The village has strong links to Shrewsbury to the south-east, Oswestry to the north-west, and Wem to the north-east. Baschurch is twinned with the town of Giat...
, a village in west Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and was disabled from osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis simply means an infection of the bone or bone marrow...
of the hip that she suffered from as a child following septicaemia. In 1887, she began training as a nurse at the Royal Alexandra Hospital
Royal Alexandra Hospital
Royal Alexandra Hospital can refer to:*Royal Alexandra Hospital *Royal Alexandra Hospital *Royal Alexandra Hospital, Brighton*Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Sydney, Australia*Royal Alexandra Hospital...
in Rhyl
Rhyl
Rhyl is a seaside resort town and community situated on the north east coast of Wales, in the county of Denbighshire , at the mouth of the River Clwyd . To the west is the suburb of Kinmel Bay, with the resort of Towyn further west, Prestatyn to the east and Rhuddlan to the south...
and opened a convalescent home for crippled children at Florence House in Baschurch in 1900 which espoused the theory of open-air treatment.
In 1901, she sought treatment for her own condition from a Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
, Robert Jones
Robert Jones (surgeon)
Sir Robert Jones, 1st Baronet, KBE, CB was a British orthopaedic surgeon who helped to establish the modern specialty of orthpaedic surgery in Britain....
. She invited him to visit the convalescent home and he eventually began travelling there on a regular basis to provide treatment to the children. By 1907, they had built an operating theatre
Operating theatre
An operating theater was a non-sterile, tiered theater or amphitheater in which students and other spectators could watch surgeons perform surgery...
and they introduced the diagnostic use of X-rays in 1913. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Florence House was used to treat wounded soldiers.
In 1918, Hunt was awarded the insignia of the Royal Red Cross
Royal Red Cross
The Royal Red Cross is a military decoration awarded in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for exceptional services in military nursing.The award was established on 27 April 1883 by Queen Victoria, with a single class of Member...
for her contribution during the war. In 1919, the British Red Cross Society and the Shropshire War Memorial Fund provided financing to move the facility, renamed the Shropshire Orthopaedic Hospital, to a former military hospital at Park Hall. The hospital also provided training for nurses. Later, a school begun for the children developed into a training college for disabled adults, Derwen College
Derwen College
Derwen College is a Further Education College situated in Oswestry in Shropshire in the United Kingdom which provides residential further education for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. The college also operates a Young's Farm shop, selling produce grown at the college....
. The hospital was used once again to treat wounded soldiers during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was later moved to Gobowen
Gobowen
Gobowen is a large village in Shropshire, England, of population 3,927 .-History:The village was previously called Bryn-y-Castell, but the name in time changed to Gobowen. The name Gobowen is believed to originate from Gob and Owen who was believed to have rested his weary head there...
, Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
, and developed into what is now called The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital
Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust in Oswestry, Shropshire, England provides elective orthopaedic surgery and musculoskeletal medical services....
.
She was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(DBE) in 1926.
The memorial to Agnes Hunt in Gobowen states:
"Reared in suffering thou shalt know how to solace others' woe. The reward of pain doth lie in the gift of sympathy."
External links
- Shropshire History
- OsCell is a dedicated website to The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital for the medical and science teams to provide information available for patients and current work
- Orthopeadic Institute is a charity that helps The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital in Oswestry and also runs medical courses and books for doctors
- The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital
- Shropshire Hospitals in World War II